Method and system for reducing the horizontal space required for displaying a column containing text data

ABSTRACT

A method and system for reducing an amount of horizontal space required when displaying a plurality of columns on a display screen is disclosed. The at least one column of the plurality of columns has at least one entry containing text data. The method and system include obtaining the at least one entry from the at least one column, and abbreviating a width of the at least one entry, determining if there is another entry containing text data. The method and system further include repeating the steps of obtaining the at least one entry, abbreviating the at least one entry and determining if there is another entry until all of the at least one entries are abbreviated. The method and system further include displaying the at least one column having the at least one abbreviated entry.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to graphically displaying data andmore particularly to a method and system for reducing the horizontalspace used to display a column containing text data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] To allow a user to easily understand data relating to a varietyof objects, data is often displayed in a table organized into rows andcolumns. Columns in the table may have entries containing text data.Columns with entries containing text data may take up more horizontalspace than is desirable. For example, each column typically includes acolumn heading describing the data in the column. Thus, the columnheading typically contains text data. In many cases, the column headingis significantly longer than the data in the other column entries. Thiscan cause several problems such as wasting space on the display orforcing a user to scroll horizontally to view data for some of thecolumns.

[0003] One context in which column entries containing text data requirea great deal of horizontal space is in capacity management. Capacitymanagement is of increasing interest for a network containing aplurality of systems. Capacity management refers to the monitoring ofand upkeep of the network. The network may contain servers, computersystems for individual users of the network, mainframes, printers, orother systems. Depending on the size of the network, the network couldbe made up of only a few systems or thousands of systems. A networkadministrator is typically responsible for ensuring that individualportions of the network function and that the network as a wholefunctions.

[0004] In order to ensure that the network functions, the networkadministrator keeps track of monitors for each system. A monitor is anattribute of a particular system. For example, monitors include centralprocessing unit (“CPU”) utilization, disk space available, disk workload, the number of bytes sent by the system, and the number of bytesreceived by the system.

[0005] Applications allow a user such as a system administrator to querythe systems within the network and receive information relating to eachsystem's monitors. Once the data relating to the monitors are received,a network administrator typically displays the data on a display for thenetwork administrator's system. One way of displaying this data is inthe form of a table. Typically, a column of the table includes entriesfor a monitor and a row of the table has data relating to monitors forone system within the network. Typically, each column has a columnheading indicating the monitor displayed for that monitor. Thus, eachcolumn has an entry, the heading, containing text data. Similarly, eachrow may have a row heading indicating the system within the network fromwhich the monitors are received.

[0006] The heading for each column describing the monitor is typicallysignificantly longer than the data in another entry for the monitor.Because of the large number of monitors that may have been queried andthe width of the column heading, a conventional table may extend beyondthe display of the network administrator's system. In order to viewentries for some of the monitors, the network administrator scrollshorizontally to bring data relating to additional monitors into view.Many users do not wish to perform horizontal scrolling or do not realizethat horizontal scrolling is available. In addition, because of thedifference in length between some column headings and the other entriesin these columns, there is a great deal of wasted space on the display.Thus, it is difficult for a network administrator to work with theinformation displayed in the table.

[0007] In order to allow the user to avoid horizontal scrolling and tomore efficiently display information, some conventional applicationstruncate the column width or allow a user to edit column headings orother entries containing text data. For example, in a table displayingmonitors, the column heading “CPU Utilization” might be truncated to be“CPU Ut”. However, information important in identifying the monitor maybe lost by truncating the column heading.

[0008] Another conventional method for shortening column headings is toallow the user to edit individual column headings or other entriescontaining text data. However, editing the column headings may be timeconsuming. For example, if there is a large number of monitors which thenetwork administrator wants to view, the network administrator may needto edit the heading for each column. If there is a large number of otherentries containing text data, the task of editing the column entriesbecomes even more time consuming. In addition, each time the networkadministrator generates a new table to receive an update on themonitors, the network administrator must edit these column headings.This consumes the network administrator's time.

[0009] If the number of column headings is very limited, a conventionalapplication might store a shortened heading for each column to allow thetable to occupy less horizontal space. However, storing shortenedheadings for each column may be problematic: where there are a largenumber of columns or where new columns may be provided. For example, anetwork administrator may wish to view data regarding a large number ofmonitors. In addition, the language in which the monitors are to bedisplayed may change. Moreover, the network administrator may want toview data for a new monitor not previously supplied. The networkadministrator may then write an application to provide information for anew monitor. Different applications could also be used to query themonitors for the systems in the network. These applications could placethe monitors in a different order or provide data for differentmonitors. If the column contains other entries having text data, itbecome even more difficult to store shortened headings in advance.Consequently, it may be difficult to determine in advance the shortenedheadings which should be stored and to which column the shortenedheading corresponds.

[0010] Accordingly, what is needed is a system and method for reducingthe horizontal space required by a column heading. The present inventionaddresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a method and system for reducingan amount of horizontal space required when displaying a plurality ofcolumns on a display screen. At least one column of the plurality ofcolumns has at least one entry containing text data. The method andsystem comprise obtaining the at least one entry from the at least onecolumn, abbreviating a width of the at least one entry, and determiningif there is another entry containing text data. The method and systemfurther comprise repeating the steps of obtaining the at least oneentry, abbreviating the at least one entry and determining if there isanother entry until all of the at least one entries are abbreviated. Themethod and system further comprise displaying the at least one columnhaving the at least one abbreviated entry.

[0012] According to the system and method disclosed herein, the presentinvention can display information in a format more easily viewed by auser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computer system.

[0014]FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a network in which the computersystem may reside.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a table containing informationrelating to a variety of monitors.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting one conventional method fortruncating a column heading.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a table after column headings havebeen truncated.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a high level flow chart depicting one method inaccordance with the present invention for reducing the horizontal spacerequired by a column heading.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a more detailed flow chart depicting one method inaccordance with the present invention for reducing the horizontal spacerequired by a column heading.

[0020]FIG. 7 is a detailed flow chart depicting one method in accordancewith the present invention for abbreviating a column heading.

[0021]FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a table after column headings havebeen abbreviating using a method in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention relates to an improvement in displayingdata in tables which use horizontal space more efficiently. Thefollowing description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill inthe art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context ofa patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to thepreferred embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart and the generic principles herein may be applied to otherembodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limitedto the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and features described herein.

[0023]FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a computer system 10 in which thepresent invention can be used. The computer system 10 includes a centralprocessing unit (“CPU”) 12 coupled to a system bus 11. Also coupled tothe system bus 11 are a user interface L⁴, a memory 16, and a display18. Through the user interface 14, the user can input information to thecomputer system 10. The display 18 allows the user to view information,for example in table form.

[0024]FIG. 1B depicts a network 20 in which the computer system 10 mightreside. The network 20 also includes systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28. Thesystems 22, 24, 26, and 28 could include other computer systems,servers, printers, or other apparatus. Although depicted as includingfive systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28, the network 20 could include anynumber of systems, from one system to thousands of systems, or more.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a user of the system 10 may wish toview data on the display 18. To allow a user to easily understand datarelating to a variety of objects, data is often shown on the display 18in a table. The data displayed in the table could relate to a variety ofsubjects. Data in the table is typically arranged in rows and columns.Each column has entries which could include text data. Text data inentries of a column could require a great deal of horizontal space.

[0026] For example, tables with columns having entries containing textdata are used in capacity management. Capacity management is ofincreasing interest for a network containing a plurality of systems,such as the network 20. Capacity management allows a networkadministrator using the system 10 to monitor the network 20 and ensurethat the network 20 functions properly. In order to ensure that thenetwork 20 functions, the network administrator keeps track of monitorsfor each system 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28. A monitor is an attribute of aparticular system 10, 22, 24, 26, or 28. For example, monitors includeCPU utilization, disk space available, the number of bytes sent by thesystem, and the number of bytes received by the system.

[0027] Applications, not shown, allow a user to query each system 10,22, 24, 26, or 28 and receive information relating to each system'smonitors. Once the data relating to the monitors are received, a networkadministrator typically desires to view the data on the display 18. Oneway of displaying this data is in the form of a table.

[0028]FIG. 2 depicts a table 30 displaying monitors for the systems 22,24, 26, and 28. The table 30 includes columns 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38.The first column 31 indicates the system 22, 24, 26, or 28 for which theremaining columns 32, 34, 36, and 38 contain monitors. The columns 32,34, 36, and 38 include entries for a monitor for each system. A row ofthe table 30 has data relating to monitors for one system 10, 22, 24,26, and 28 within the network 20.

[0029] Each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 has a column headingindicating the monitor displayed for that monitor. Thus, each column hasan entry, the column heading, containing text data. The column 31 has aheading “System.” The heading for the column 32 is “Bytes Received.” Thecolumn 34 has a heading “Bytes Sent.” The heading for the column 36 is“CPU Utilization.” The heading for the column 38 is “Disk I Work Load.”Other columns, not shown, may have other column headings.

[0030] As depicted in FIG. 2, the text data in the headings for columns31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 occupies a significant amount of horizontalspace. In the table 30 shown, the column heading describing columns 31,32, 34, 36, and 38 is often significantly longer than the data in anentry for the column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38. Because of the large numberof monitors that may have been queried and the length of the heading foreach column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38, the table 30 may extend beyond thedisplay 18. In order to view columns, not shown, for some of themonitors, the network administrator scrolls horizontally to bring datarelating to additional monitors into view. Many users do not wish toperform horizontal scrolling or do not realize that horizontal scrollingis available. In addition, because of the difference in length betweensome column headings and the entries in these columns 31, 32, 34, 36,and 38, there is a great deal of wasted space on the display 18.

[0031] In order to reduce the horizontal space occupied by text data inan entry, such as a column heading, some conventional methods truncatethe width of the column. For example, to allow the user to avoidhorizontal scrolling and more efficiently display information, someconventional applications truncate headings for a column 31, 32, 34, 36,and 38. FIG. 3 depicts a conventional method 50 for truncating columnheadings.

[0032] The user enters the desired width of the column heading via step52. A column is then retrieved via step 54. It is then determined viastep 56 if the column is wider than the width set by the user. If thecolumn is wider, then the column is truncated via step 58. If the columnis not wider, then the step 58 is omitted. It is then determined ifthere are any columns remaining. If there are columns remaining, thenstep 54 through 60 are repeated for the next column. If no columnsremain, then the table is displayed via step 62. The method thenterminates via step 64.

[0033]FIG. 4 depicts a table 70 displayed after the conventional method50 has been used to truncate the columns to be five characters in width.The table 70 contains the same information as the table 30. Thus, thecolumn 71 has a column heading for the “Syste” for the system. Thecolumn 72 has a heading “Bytes” for the bytes received. The column 74has a information relating to the bytes sent and has a heading “Bytes.”The heading for the column 736 is “CPU U” and contains data relating toCPU utilization. The column heading for the column 78 is “Disk” andcontains information relating to the “Disk I” work load. The heading forthe column 80 is “Disk 1” for the “Disk 2” work load. Other columns, notshown, may have other column headings. Because each column 71, 72, 74,76, 78, and 80 has been truncated, column 80 can be displayed to thesystem administrator without horizontal scrolling.

[0034] Although the table 70 has more narrower columns 71, 72, 74, 76,78, and 80, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize thatimportant information in the headings for the columns 71, 72, 74, 76,78, and 80 has been lost. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the second columnin both tables 30 and 70 refers to bytes sent. The third column in bothtables 30 and 70 refers to bytes received. However, as shown in FIG. 4,because the headings for columns 72 and 74 have been truncated, itcannot be determined from the headings for columns 72 and 74 whichcolumn 72 or 74 contains bytes received and which column 72 or 74contains bytes sent. Similarly, although columns 78 and 80 both haveheading stating “Disk ,” the column 78 and 80 refer to different disks.Thus, it cannot be determined from the headings for columns 78 and 80which column contains information relating to “Disk 1,” and whichcontains information relating to “Disk 2.” Consequently, truncating theheadings for the columns 71, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80 in the table 70 doesnot adequately display information to the user or system administrator.

[0035] Referring back to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, another conventionalmethod for shortening headings for columns is to allow the user to editindividual column headings for the columns 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38.However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize thatediting the column headings may be time consuming. For example, if thereare a large number of monitors which the network administrator wants toview, the network administrator may need to edit the column heading foreach column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38. In addition, each time the networkadministrator generates a new table 30 to receive an update on themonitors for the systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28 in the network 20, thenetwork administrator must edit these column headings. This consumes thenetwork administrator's time. Moreover, for a table, not shown, havingcolumns with multiple entries containing text data, a user may need toedit each entry containing text data. Where there are a large number ofentries, editing each entry is even more time consuming. Thus, allowinga user to edit the column headings does not adequately address howinformation is displayed in the table 30.

[0036] If the number of column headings is very limited, a conventionalapplication might store a shortened heading for each column 31, 32, 34,36, and 38 to allow the table 30 to occupy less horizontal space.However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize thatstoring a shortened heading for each column 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 maybe problematic where there are a large number of columns 31, 32, 34, 36,and 38 or where new columns 31, 32, 34, 36, and 38 may be provided.Providing shortened text data is also problematic where each column 31,32, 34, 36, and 38 has many entries with text data.

[0037] For example, a network administrator may wish to view dataregarding a large number of monitors in the table 30. In addition, thelanguage in which the monitors are to be displayed may change. Moreover,the network administrator may want to view data for a new monitor notpreviously supplied. The network administrator may then write anapplication to provide information for a new monitor. Differentapplications, not shown, could also be used to query the monitors forthe systems 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28 in the network 20. These applicationscould place the monitors in a different order, query different monitors,or even provide the information in a different language. Consequently,it may be difficult to determine in advance the shortened headings whichshould be stored and to which column 31, 32, 34, 36, or 38 the shortenedheading corresponds.

[0038] The present invention provides a method and system for reducingan amount of horizontal space required when displaying a plurality ofcolumns on a display screen. The at least one column of the plurality ofcolumns has at least one entry containing text data. The method andsystem include obtaining the at least one entry from the at least onecolumn, and abbreviating a width of the at least one entry, determiningif there is another entry containing text data. The method and systemfurther include repeating the steps of obtaining the at least one entry,abbreviating the at least one entry and determining if there is anotherentry until all of the at least one entries are abbreviated. The methodand system further include displaying the at least one column having theat least one abbreviated entry.

[0039] The present invention will be described in terms of abbreviatingcolumn headings. However, the present invention can be used toabbreviate another entry having text data. The present invention will bedescribed in terms of a table used to display monitors relating tosystems in a network. However, one of ordinary skill in the art willreadily recognize that this method and system will operate effectivelyfor other tables storing other types of information. The method andsystem will also be described in terms of particular sources for data tobe displayed in a table, using the English language to display data, andperforming the method for a plurality of columns in a table. However,one of ordinary skill in the art will readily realize that the methodand system could be used with other sources for data, with tablesdisplaying information in other languages, and for a single column or anumber of columns less than the total number of columns in a particulartable.

[0040] To more particularly illustrate the method and system inaccordance with the present invention, refer now to FIG. 5 depicting aflow chart of one embodiment of a method 100 for reducing the horizontalspace used to display data in a table. The method 100 could be used withthe system 10 and the network 20. Thus, the method 100 is useful whendisplaying monitors for each system 10, 22, 24, 26, and 28 in thenetwork 20.

[0041] A column is first retrieved via step 102. Preferably, retrievinga column refers to obtaining the column heading and, perhaps, otherinformation used in the method 100. The column heading is abbreviatedvia step 104. In an embodiment abbreviating another entry having textdata, the other entry having text data is abbreviated in step 100. It isthen determined if another column which has not had its column headingabbreviated is available via step 106. In an embodiment in which anotherentry having text data is abbreviated, it is determined if anothercolumn which has an entry containing text data that has not beenabbreviated is available in step 106. If so, then step 102 is returnedto for the next column. If no unabbreviated columns remain, then thetable is displayed via step 108. Note that although the method 100depicts the step of displaying the columns as occurring afterabbreviations are completed for all columns, nothing prevents a columnfrom being displayed earlier.

[0042] Abbreviating the column heading rather than truncating the columnheading allows certain information to be preserved. In addition, theactual algorithm for abbreviating the column heading can vary. Forexample, the abbreviation step 104 could include eliminating lower casevowels, eliminating spaces, eliminating certain other characters, or anycombination thereof. Moreover, because the user need not enter theabbreviations by hand, reducing the horizontal space required using themethod 100 is not time consuming. In addition, the method 100 can adaptto new monitors or columns, new sources of data, new languages, andother changes.

[0043]FIG. 6 depicts a more detailed flow chart of a method 150 forabbreviating column headings in accordance with the present invention.The method 150 has the advantages of the method 100. In one embodiment,the method 150 can be used for abbreviated another entry containing textdata in a column. In such an embodiment, steps discussed as beingperformed on a column heading are performed on the entry containing textdata.

[0044] The system 10 turns on the abbreviation via step 154. In oneembodiment, the system 10 turns on the abbreviation in response to theuser turning on or off the abbreviation or setting the column headingwidth. A column is then retrieved via step 156. Thus, the first columnis initially retrieved. Step 156 is analogous to step 102 in the method100. The column heading may then be set to its full text description,via step 158. It is then determined whether the abbreviation is on viastep 160. If the user has turned abbreviation on, then the columnheading is abbreviated via step 162. Thus, step 162 is analogous to thestep 104 of the method 100. If abbreviation has not been activated, thenthe step 162 is skipped. It is then determined if another, unabbreviatedcolumn is available, via step 164. if there is another column available,then the method 150 returns to step 156 in order to retrieve the nextcolumn. Thus, steps 156 through step 164 are repeated. If there are noother columns available, then the columns are displayed via step 166.Note that although the method 150 depicts the step of displaying thecolumns as occurring after abbreviations are completed for all columns,nothing prevents a column from being displayed earlier.

[0045]FIG. 7 depicts another more detailed flow chart of one method forperforming the abbreviation step 162 of the method 150 or the step 104of the method 100. The first character type is retrieved via step 168.It is then determined which character type will undergo abbreviation fora particular pass through a column heading via step 170. Thus, step 170determines a current character type. In a preferred embodiment, thereare three character types: vowels (type one), lower case letters (typetwo), and spaces (type three). In another embodiment, other charactertypes can be chosen. For example, letters other than vowels could bechosen as type one, the first character type. In addition, the charactertypes could be in another order. For example, in an alternateembodiment, the type one character could be designated as a space.

[0046] Via steps 172, 174, 176, and 178 the test for the character typeis set. If the character type was determined to be type one in step 170,then the system 100 will informed that the column heading should betested for vowels in step 172. If the character type was determined tobe type two in step 170, then the system 100 will informed that thecolumn heading should be tested for lower case characters in step 174.If the character type was determined to be type three in step 170, thenthe system 100 will informed that the column heading should be testedfor spaces in step 176. If the character type is not type one, type twoor type three, then step 178 is used. Thus, in a first pass through thecolumn heading, the character type will be type one. In a second passthrough the column heading, the character type will be type two. In athird pass through the column heading, the character type will be typethree. In the fourth pass, step 178 will be used.

[0047] The last character for the column heading is retrieved via step18C. It is then determined if the width of the column heading is greaterthan the width set in step 152 of the method 150, via step 182. If thewidth is not greater than the width set, the abbreviation is terminatedvia step 184. Thus, the abbreviation method 162 can be terminated whenthe column heading reaches the set width regardless of the number ofpasses made for the heading.

[0048] If the width is greater than the set width, then via step 186 itis determined if the character is the same type as set in steps 172,174, or 176. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, for a first pass throughthe column heading, it is determined if the character is a vowel viastep 186. For a second pass through the heading determined using step174, then in a preferred embodiment it is determined if the character isa lower case letter via step 186. If it is the third pass through theheading, then in a preferred embodiment, it is determined if thecharacter is a space via step 186. As a result, step 186 determines ifthe character matches the character type for the appropriate pass viaset step 186.

[0049] If the character matches the current character type in step 186,then the character is removed in step 188. If, however, the test in step186 determines that the character does not match the current charactertype, then step 188 is skipped. The previous character is then retrievedvia step 190. Via step 192 it is determined if the character retrievedin step 190 is the first character. If the character is not the firstcharacter, then step 182 through step 192 are repeated. Thus, eachcharacter in the column heading is tested to see if it matches thecurrent character type and removed if a match is found. If in step 192it is determined that the first character was retrieved, then in step193 the next character type is retrieved. Step 170 is then returned toin order to determine the next character type for the next pass throughthe column heading. If the first three character types in step 172, 174,and 176 have been exhausted, then step 178 is used.

[0050] Step 178 sets the test as being a truncation test. Thus, in thelast pass through the column heading, the column heading may betruncated. It is determined via step 194 if the width of the columnheading is still greater than set in step 152. If the width is greater,then the column heading is truncated to the appropriate number ofcharacters via step 196. If the width is not greater, then step 196 isomitted. The abbreviation method 162 is then terminated via step 184.

[0051]FIG. 8 depicts a table 200 after abbreviation has been completedvia the methods 100 or 150. The table 200 contains columns 210, 220,230, 240, 250, and 260. The table 200 contains the same information asin the tables 30 and 70 of FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively. Referring backto FIG. 8, the column headings have been abbreviated as discussed withrespect to the step 162. Thus, vowels, lower case letters, and spaceshave been removed to limit the heading of each column 210, 220, 230,240, 250, and 260 to five characters.

[0052] The horizontal space used by the table 200 has been reducedwithout losing vital information. For example, in contrast to the table70 of FIG. 4, the columns 220 and 230 can be distinguished. Inparticular, it is clear that the column 220 refers to bytes received(“BytsRc”), while the column 230 refers to bytes sent (“BytsSn”).Similarly, it is clear that the column 250 refers to the first disk'swork load (“Dsk1W”), while the column 260 refers to the second disk'swork load (“Dsk2W”). Thus, a user can still distinguish betweeninformation contained in different columns of the table 200.

[0053] In addition, the user did not have to enter the abbreviations byhand. Instead, the user merely switched the abbreviation on via step152. Thus, the user's time is not needlessly consumed. In addition, themethod 100 or 150 can be adapted to different languages, differentmonitors, or different sources for data. The method abbreviates existingcolumns, rather than storing shortened headings for particular columns.As a result, the abbreviations method 100 and 150 need not know inadvance which column contains what data or in what order the columns arearranged. In addition, the method 100 and 150 can be used for data otherthan capacity management. Moreover, by changing the abbreviations testsin 172, 174, 176, or 178, the user can adapt the method 100 or 150 todifferent languages.

[0054] A method and system has been disclosed for reducing the amount ofhorizontal space required when displaying text data in a table. Althoughthe present invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reducing an amount of horizontalspace required when displaying a plurality of columns on a displayscreen, at least one column of the plurality of columns having at leastone entry containing text data, the method comprising the steps of: (a)obtaining the at least one entry from the at least one column; (b)abbreviating a width of the at least one entry; (c) determining if thereis another entry containing text data; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c)until all of the at least one entry of the at least one column areabbreviated; and (e) displaying the at least one column having the atleast one abbreviated entry.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the atleast one entry includes at least one column heading.
 3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the at least column heading includes a first pluralityof characters; and wherein abbreviating step (b) further includes thestep of: (b1) removing at least one character of a second plurality ofcharacters if the at least one column heading includes the at least onecharacter.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second plurality ofcharacters further includes a plurality of vowels.
 5. The method ofclaim 2 wherein the at least one column heading includes a firstplurality of characters, the plurality of characters being capable ofcontaining at least one lower case character; and wherein abbreviatingstep (b) further includes the step of: (b1) removing the at least onelower case character if the at least one column heading includes the atleast one lower case character.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the atleast one column heading includes a first plurality of characters, thefirst plurality of characters being capable of containing at least onespace; and wherein abbreviating step (b) further includes the step of:(b1) removing the at least one space if the at least one column headingincludes the at least one space.
 7. A method for reducing an amount ofhorizontal space required when displaying a plurality of column on adisplay screen, at least one column of the plurality of columnsincluding at least one entry containing text data, the method comprisingthe steps of: (a) determining a character type; (b) obtaining the atleast one entry; and (c) abbreviating a width of the at least one entryby (c1) removing at least one character having a first character type ifthe at least one entry includes the at least one character and if thecharacter type is the first character type; (c2) removing at least onelower case character if the at least one entry includes the at least onelower case character and if the character type is a second charactertype, the second character type being a lower case character; and (c3)removing at least one space if the at least one entry includes the atleast one space and if the character type is a third character type, thethird character type being a space.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein theat least one entry further includes at least one column heading.
 9. Themethod of claim 8 further comprising the step of: (d) repeating steps(b) and (c) for each of the at least one column for a particularcharacter type of the plurality of character types.
 10. The method ofclaim 9 further comprising the step of: (e) repeating steps (a), (b),and (c) for each of the at least one columns for each of the pluralityof character types.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least onecharacter of the plurality of characters removing step (c1) furtherincludes the step of: (c1i) removing the at least one character havingthe first character type if the at least one column heading includes theat least one character and if the at least one column heading is widerthan a particular column width.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein theat least one lower case character removing step (c2) further includesthe step of: (c2i) removing the at least one lower case character if theat least one column heading includes the at least one lower casecharacter, if the character type is the second character type, and ifthe at least one column heading is wider than the particular columnwidth.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one spaceremoving step (c3) further includes the step of: (c3i) removing at leastone space if the at least one column heading includes the at least onespace, if the character type is the third character type, and if the atleast one column heading is wider than the particular column width. 14.The method of claim 13 wherein the abbreviating step (c) furthercomprises the step of: (c4) truncating the at least one column headingif the width of the at least one column heading is greater than theparticular column width and if the at least one column heading does notcontain any character of the first character type, the second charactertype, or the third character type.
 15. A computer-readable mediumcontaining a program for reducing an amount of horizontal space requiredwhen displaying a plurality of columns on a display screen, theplurality of columns including at least one column having at least oneentry containing text data, the program comprising instructions for:obtaining the at least one entry of the at least one column;abbreviating a width of the at least one entry; determining if there isanother entry containing text data; repeating the instructions forabbreviating the at least one entry and determining if there is anotherentry containing text data until all of the at least one entry .sabbreviated; and displaying the at least one abbreviate entry of the atleast one column.
 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 whereinthe at least one entry includes at least one column heading.
 17. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the at least one columnheading include a first plurality of characters; and wherein theinstructions for abbreviating the at least one column heading furtherincludes instructions for: removing at least one character of a secondplurality of characters if the at least one column heading includes theat least one character.
 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17wherein the second plurality of characters further includes a pluralityof vowels.
 19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the atleast one column heading includes a first plurality of characters, theplurality of characters being capable of containing at least one uppercase character; and wherein the instructions fbr abbreviating the columnheading further includes instructions for: removing the at least oneupper case character if the at least one column heading includes the atleast one upper case character.
 20. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 16 wherein the at least one column heading includes a firstplurality of characters, the plurality of characters being capable ofcontaining at least one space; and wherein the instructions forabbreviating the at least one column heading further includesinstructions for: removing the at least one space if the at least onecolumn heading includes the at least one space.
 21. A computer-readablemedium containing a program for reducing an amount of horizontal spaceused when displaying a plurality of columns on a display screen, atleast one column of the plurality of columns having at least one entrycontaining text data, the at least one entry including a first pluralityof characters, the program comprising instructions for: (a) determininga character type; (b) obtaining the at least one entry of the at leastone column; and (c) abbreviating a width of the at least one entry by(c1) removing at least one character of a second plurality of charactershaving a first character type if the at least one entry includes the atleast one character and if the character type is the first charactertype; (c2) removing at least one lower case character if the at leastone entry includes the at least one lower case character and if thecharacter type is a second character type, the second character typebeing a lower case character; and (c3) removing at least one space ifthe at least one entry includes the at least one space and if thecharacter type is a third character type, the third character type beinga space.
 22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21 wherein the atleast one entry includes at least one column heading.
 23. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 22 further comprising instructionsfor: (d) repeating the instructions (b) and (c) for a particularcharacter type of the plurality of character types.
 24. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 23 further comprising instructionsfor: (e) repeating the instructions (a), (b), and (c) for each of theplurality of columns for each of the plurality of character types. 25.The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the instructions forremoving the at least one character of the plurality of characters (c1)further includes instructions for: (c1i) removing the at least onecharacter of a second plurality of characters having the first charactertype if the at least one column heading includes the at least onecharacter, if the character type is the first character type, and if theat east one column heading is wider than a particular column width. 26.The computer-readable medium of claim 25 wherein the instructions forremoving the at least one lower case character (c2) further includesinstructions for: (c2i) removing at least one lower case character ifthe at least one column heading includes the at least one lower casecharacter, if the character type is the second character type, and ifthe at least one column heading is wider than the particular columnwidth.
 27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein theinstructions for removing the at least one space (c3) further includesinstructions for: (c3i) removing at least one space if the at least onecolumn heading includes the at least one space, if the character type isthe third character type, and if the at least one column heading iswider than the particular column width.
 28. The computer-readable mediumof claim 27 wherein the instructions for abbreviating the at least onecolumn heading (c) further includes instructions for: (c4) truncatingthe at least one column heading if the at least one column heading iswider than the particular column width and if the at least one columnheading does not contain any character of the first character type, thesecond character type or the third character type.
 29. A system forreducing an amount of horizontal space used when displaying a pluralityof column on a display screen, at least one column of the plurality ofcolumns having at least one entry containing text data the systemcomprising: means for obtaining the at least one entry of the at leastone column; means coupled with the obtaining means for abbreviating awidth of the at least one entry; and means coupled with the abbreviatingmeans for displaying the at least one entry.
 30. The system of claim 29wherein the at least one entry includes at least one column heading. 31.The system of claim 30 wherein the at least one column heading furtherincludes a plurality of characters and wherein the abbreviating meansfurther comprise: means for determining a character type for at leastone of the plurality of characters, the character type including a firstcharacter type, a second character type, and a third character type;means coupled with the determining means for removing the at least oneof the plurality of characters if the character type is the firstcharacter type and if the width of the at least one column heading isgreater than a particular width; means coupled with the determiningmeans for removing the at least one character if the character type is asecond character type and if the width of the at least one columnheading is greater than the particular width, the second character typebeing a lower case character; means coupled with the determining meansfor removing the at least one character if the character type is a thirdcharacter type and if the width of the at least one column heading isgreater than the particular width, the third character type being aspace; and means coupled with the determining means for truncating thecolumn heading if the width of the at least one column heading isgreater than the particular width and if the at least one column headingdoes not contain any character of the first character type, the secondcharacter type or the third character type.